Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore, presents a show of art works by eminent artists from the country and all over the world. The show titled, ‘Memorabilia’ is an exploration of memory, as mediated and presented by the photograph - whether the image is a direct product of the photographic process; used as a referential point by the artist; or acting as a filter through which ideas are researched. Each image stows away a particular moment and allows it to be re-consumed as many times as it is perceived (and by as many persons that can view it)– sustaining a fragile link between different temporal zones. Personal recollections, collective histories, and public archives become part of this broad study that also attempts to look into the transitional period between the age of black and white, and that of digital colour.

The show previews on 4th January 2014 and is on view till 25th January 2014.

Buy Art 2014

Icon Art Gallery, Hyderabad presents a group show titled, ‘Bur art 2014’ of art works by upcoming and eminent artists. The show displays affordable art to entice the interest of the art buyers and collectors for this festive season.

The categories for residencies are:Studio residency 2015 :A studio residency (3 months) in, India or, conversely in Switzerland, gives artists the chance to gain a broad insight into a different cultural environment. The aim of the residency is to find inspiration, establish networks and contemplate new projects and cooperation's. In addition to a place to work and accommodation, Pro Helvetia will provide specific coaching. The Swiss Arts Council covers the cost of travel, insurances and per diem expenses. A maximum of four applications can be considered per region each year. Applicants may apply three times in total for a Pro Helvetia studio residency. Applications can be submitted until 1 March 2014 via www.myprohelvetia.ch for 2015.

Research residency :A research residency (max. 4 weeks) enables artists and cultural practitioners (e.g. curators, event organisers, mediators) to carry out research in India or, conversely in Switzerland. The aim of the residency is to prepare an exchange project. Pro Helvetia supports the compilation of the visiting programme with professional know-how. The Swiss Arts council covers the costs of travel, accommodation, insurance and per diem expenses. Applications can be submitted via www.myprohelvetia.ch at any time up to three months before the start of the trip. Applications must be written in English.

The last date for submission of application forms for studio residencies, for the year 2015 is 1 March 2014. (News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Memory keeper

Beneath the simplicity of Tanmoy Samanta’s art lies a dense world where personal history meets the politics of our times

(At Dusk by Tanmoy Samanta)

When you have so much chutzpah around in the art world, it’s possible for a frill-free affair like “All I have learned and forgotten” to go unnoticed. In this raging hullabaloo over all things new and experimental, a quiet series of work like this — uncomplicated (though only seemingly, otherwise it is heavily layered) that too rendered in traditional mediums like gouache can get eclipsed but those who remain concerned with the ingenuity of art wouldn’t have the slightest doubt over such works. The faith is further reinstated when S.V. Gaitonde’s minimalist landscape is sold for a whopping Rs. 23.7 crore at the Christie’s inaugural auction in India.

It is Tanmoy Samanta’s third solo show at Renu Modi’s Gallery Espace where the Delhi-based artist displays 20 works like gouache on rice paper and recycled 3-dimensional books. “I think I am a prisoner of my own sensibilities…I am still not bored with painting,” says Samanta in response to a question about whether or not he felt tempted to choose the medium of installations for his discourse. Though, there are recycled books but they lack the drama and absurdity of so many of installation pieces one comes across.

(The Cartographers' Paradox by Tanmoy Samanta)

He dwells on the idea of memory in this show with maps, clocks, books, keys and locks occupying the centrestage on his canvases. And these objects have travelled via the route of artist’s personal history as Tanmoy is a collector of objects like broken toys, old keys and globes etc. Now when he places them on his canvas, shifting their purpose, the personal history comes to have a new narrative. “A new story is created by subverting the object,” says the young artist. For instance, a padlock, with slight alterations to its form, comes to assume a different identity, a butterfly is turned upside down, evoking the wonder of magical realism. “It is because I read a lot. With both my parents belonging to the world of literature, I was exposed to classics in my childhood and I continue reading them. So influenced am I by writers like Kafka and Marquez (Gabriel Garcia Marquez) that I take directly from them and interpret it visually. So there are a lot of literary influences, allegory and metaphors,” explains the recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Award, New York in 2003. Within the plot of his personal history are the sub-plots of politics of our times for instance in “Cartographer’s Paradox – I” in which he subverts a map, reimagining it completely, he blurs boundaries or when he brings two unlikely things together — a bird perched on a gun in “At Dusk”.

(The Padlock by Tanmoy Samanta)

Other influence on his artistic vision is Santiniketan where he formally studied art. The Oriental feel of his work — the lyricism and minimalism with definitive lines further accentuated by the use of gouache and rice paper also comes from the Santiniketan tradition. “Yes, Santiniketan is definitely an influence. I take inspiration from the Japanese prints that I came across in its library. Also, Far East is an important part of the art history taught there unlike other art institutions. As for rice paper and gouache, the usage was also determined by their alignment to my artistic practice. I like to linger on one work for a long time and ordinary paper doesn’t reciprocate so well when you apply layers after layers. And watercolours get totally absorbed which is why I chose gouache,” says Tanmoy.

The exhibition is on at Gallery Espace, New Friends Colony, Community Centre, till January 12, 2014.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Dhoomimal City Gallery, New Delhi is hosting a group art exhibition titled, ‘The New Dawn’ that will showcase art works by renowned contemporary artists like Tota Viakuntam, Bikash Poddar, Anand Panchal and Shuvendu Sarkar and also sculptures by Pushpa Devi.

The exhibition will have 25 creations by these artists that are visual delights. With each colour, line and strokes on the canvas, these artists have created a piece of their imagination and creativity. Overall, this art exhibition is a celebration of artistic expression and a chance for the art enthusiasts to explore the same.

The show is on view till 31st December 2013.

Natura

( work on display)

Gallery Pradarshak, Mumbai presents the debut solo show fo artist Dhimant Vyas, at the Hirji Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai. The solo titled, ‘Natura’ has on display the artist works with a new style synthesized from a fusion of folk art and imaginative world art. At its base are Mother Nature and her many fascinating representations in Indian folk art. She anchors this series, probably representing the artist's deep concern about her erosion in our race for urbanization and a sense of urgency to get reconnected with her.

The artist has used the medium of Arches and Fabriano paper and water colours to bring out the richness of form and colour, along with gold foil.

The show is on view till 1st of January 2014.

Pitara

Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi presents a group show of eminent artists’ works titled ‘Pitara’. The show displays the paintings and sculptures of the well known contemporary artists of the country.

The show is to commence on 5th January and will be on view till 11th January 2014.

Towards Satori

(work on display)

Artists’ Centre, Mumbai presents a solo show of art works by painter Ruby Ahluwalia. A senior bureaucrat and an accomplished motivational speaker, Ruby is a cancer survivor and through her art in the show titled, ‘Towards Satori’ she expresses her journey of survival from a state of yearning to a state of bliss.

Here is a tribute to (late) NTR by city-based artist Katti Balakoteswara Rao. He has filled his canvases with drawings and water colour paintings of the actor/politician at an exhibition titled ‘Annagari Bommala Koluvu’ at the State Art Gallery. Each work looks unique and reflects his love for NTR. “I have lost count of the number of times I have watched Pathala Bhairavi and Missamma,” says Koteswara Rao as he points towards a water colour painting of NTR in the famous role of Thota Ramudu from the classic movie. “He was such a great actor. His face was his asset and could depict myriad emotions through them,” says Koteswara Rao in awe.

( water colour paintings of actor NTR)

All the memorable characters of NTR have been depicted — Gireesam in Kanyasulkam, a meek teacher in Missamma, Lord Rama, Krishna, an anguished king and father in Lava Kusa, Duryodhana, Krishnadevaraya, Brahmanaidu — these almost perfect replicas are precise and reflect an experienced hand. The drawings minutely depict every face line and strand of hair and captures NTR’s style. The hall is filled with 160 works which includes 120 drawings and 30 watercolours. There are two drawings — one of NTR’s parents and the other of his brother Trivikram Rao among the exhibits.

Hailing from Addanki in Prakasham district, Koteswara Rao is doing his Ph. D in folk art from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University. Interestingly, this is his first solo exhibition, and he is glad his first exhibition is on his ‘hero’.

(Kati Bala Koteshwara Rao at the gallery)

Art has been Koteswara Rao’s passion since childhood. He likes to draw ‘happy works which even a common man can enjoy.’ “I believe art is not just for the artist but also for common people. I do not want to draw abstract works which is for only a niche audience. I want my art to be simple and appreciated by all,” he smiles. Koteswara Rao promises more exhibitions on NTR. “I will do different art works for a living and works on NTR just for my satisfaction,” he says.

All his works will come out in the form of a book titled ‘Anna Gari Bommalakoluvu’ to be released next month.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi presents a solo show of recent art works by upcming artist George Martin PJ. The show titled, ‘Empty Envelops’ displays the vibrant and colourful art work of the artist.

The works on display are a riot of colours, rendered in Acrylic on canvas medium, and also some portions of digital art embedded in them. George addresses the overwhelming feeling of living in an urban-ness which engulfs people at times. Dealign with social issues which are specific to an urban life style, the works enclose a plethora of interpretations within them.Also on display are his exquisite and poignant installation works.

The show is on view till 18th January 2014.

Harbouring the Cityscape

( work by Sasanka Ghosh)

The Promenade Lounge of Taj Bengal Hotel, Kolkata presents an eye-catching treat for all art lovers in the city. The venue brings the display of some of the most exclusive and unique art works by artist Sasanka Ghosh. The art works by Sasanka are modernist in nature with generalized undertones. The artist excels in creating imaginative city spaces and harbour scenes.

The artist makes use of bold strokes and the colours used by him define the mood of the nature surrounding him. A percentage of proceeds collected from the sale of his works will be used for the benefit of underprivileged children.

The show is on view till 29th December 2013.

Chalat Musafir

(Work by Sangeeta Singh)

Azad Bhavan, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi presents a solo show of paintings by artist Sangeeta Singh. The show titled, ‘Chalat Musafir’ is a painting exhibition which depicts the figurative and realistic works of the artist.

Sangeeta is an award winning artist, renowned for her finely executed imagery that appears to emerge partly from her ethereal dream world and partly from her colourful real life encounters. Movement, speed, locomotion and cycle rickshaw travels all surface in her paintings in bits and pieces implying migration.

The show is on view till 8th January 2014.

Kumbh Mela

Piramal Art Gallery at the National Centre for Performing Arts, NCPA, Mumbai presents a solo show of photographs by renowned photojournalist, Shekhar Soni.

The show titled ‘Kumbh Mela’ features the best images captured in the photographer’s lens of the Kumbh Mela which happens every year.

Shekhar Soni is a freelancer from Nagpur with a photojournalistic experience of over 25 years to his credit. He also is a regular contributor to leading news papers in the country.

The show is on from the 7th of January to 16th of January 2014.( News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Life as art

Everyday life. That’s what K.S. Joseph recreates in ‘Bhoomika’

(K.S. Joseph's oil and acrylic works)

You just need to look around to find art, says award-winning artist K.S. Joseph. You realise his words are true as you view his works at Bhoomika, on at Kasthuri Sreenivasan Art Gallery.

Be it ‘Bargain’, which captures the hustle and bustle of a typical village sandhai or ‘Still Life’, depicting a tray with colourful fruits, his paintings speak of an artist who keenly observes the world around him. “You can see art even in empty tea cups,” he says.

A native of Kerala, Joseph says images of his home, etched in his mind, come to life when he picks the brush. The green farms, the pastures, women who harvest paddy…his canvases are all about snapshots of earthy rural landscapes.

(Artist K S Joseph)

Bright red and earthy brown hues, used in the painting of the Velichappadu, an oracle, catches your eye. His portrait of a woman in a green sari and blouse, sporting a light smile, won the gold medal for the ‘Best Realistic Painting’ from the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi.

In sharp contrast to these rural visuals, stand canvases depicting the urban landscape and fast pace of life — high-rise buildings and tarred roads bustling with vehicles.

His works celebrate light and shade. His acrylic work, ‘Nature’s Litter’, depicts a dusty path sprinkled with dry leaves. A shaft of light illuminates the foliage.

(K.S. Joseph's oil and acrylic works)

“Light and shade breathe life into a canvas,” says Joseph. “That is what transforms it into a painting from a mere sketch or a drawing.”

Crimson, reds, greens, yellows… his works are a riot of colours. A hint of purple adds magic to the painting of a village house and deserted street. In ‘Dawn Awakens’, the entire frame and background are bathed in pink. ‘The Evening Waves’ sees the beach engulfed in vermillion. An engineer by profession, Joseph dabbled in art from school.

(K.S. Joseph's oil and acrylic works)

“I instinctively liked art,” says the artist, who hates classifying his work to fit into genres. “I do not believe in calling a painting modern or classical. Whatever appeals to the eye is good art.”

The exhibition, 12th in the gallery’s Silver Jubilee series, features 37 paintings in oil and acrylic. It is on till December 31, and is open from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Artspeaks, Delhi presents the recent paintings of artist Sanju Jain in a show titled, ‘Pulp Fiction’. Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, which is said to be the seat of Indian abstract art with the continued presence and influence of artists like late J.Swaminathan and S.H.Raza, and also considering the immediate history of contemporary artists from this region who have devoted themselves in practicing and promoting the abstract art language/s, Sanju Jain too has all the reasons to adopt a language which is apparently modernist and abstract.

The show is on view till 10th of January 2014.

Anahita

Ahmedabad Ni Gufa, presents a group show of six upcoming artists’ works. The show is titled, ‘Anahita’ and displays water colour on paper works, along with oil and acrylic on canvas paintings.

The show is to be inaugurated by Hasmukh Patel, eminent architect and Nabibakhsh Mansoori, eminent artist. The participating artists in the show are Bhavesh Zala, Subir Dey, Mehul Prajapati, Hardik Pancholi, Durgesh Goswami, and Aqib Shaikh.

A water colour demonstration also will take place on 8th January 2014, 4:00 pm onwards.

The show previews on 7th of January 2014 at 5:00 pm and is on view till 12th January 2014.

Naty

(work by Sandhya Vaish)

Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi presents ‘Naty’, the solo art show with a display of artworks by artist Sandhya R. Vaish.

Sandhya did her professional course in art from Roorkee's Kala Angan and soon started as a nature artist. She has shown gradual progression and has developed the unique ability to add unusual creative styling to each of her works.

The nature influenced canvases are a testament to her efforts and skill. The show is on view till 31st December 2013.

‘A Caballo’ is a Spanish word which means Horseback. Most of the paintings are equestrian themed ie, about horses. The artist is of the firm belief that horses lend us the wings we lack. He shows his life, with all the hues of pain and struggle in a form of horses as his muse. Horse is the symbol of speed, strength.

To the artist horses and freedom are synonymous. The show is on view from 28th December 2013 to 6th January 2014.

( News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Illustrated story of our lives

Four young women come together to share quirky stories through their illustrations through the Illustrator’s Collective

(Creating different designs The illustrator’s collective)

The Illustrator’s Collective is a group of four designers, each in their own right — Bakula Nayak, Kalyani Ganapathy, Shreyas R. Krishnan and Trusha Sawant — who came together for their love of illustration. In their recent exhibition “My Cup of Tea” at Kynkyny, the group you could see how they are bringing different techniques and styles of illustration together in one space to provide a platform to showcase their work to people.

“The idea is also to make illustration as a concept more available to people because otherwise you’d probably see it in the context of books or the Internet,” they say. It is also a chance to look at illustrations from up-close, where they can be seen in full detail and quality.

“A lot of illustrators use stories to interact with people looking at their work and have them understand where the work came from. Traditionally an illustration is an interpretation of the written word and essentially we are all storytellers.”

Each of them tells different stories, drawing from their observations and life experiences.

“The treatment used, is basically cutting away the black and leaving it in places I want it to be there. It connected nicely to the theme considering that it’s about these women who are covered in black,” says Shreyas. “With this series, it was more about the visual of the women covered in black because it’s got a graphic quality. I think there’s a bit of disconnect in what you think the burkha is for because one actually looks at them more because they are wearing it. But more than the social commentary of any sort this was just about things that I see.”

Out of the Blue

Trusha Sawant’s lino and screen prints are quirky; she fills them with images of a dinosaur, Andy’s ashtray (drawn from Andy Warhol’s can of soup) or an enchanted tree, all in shades of indigo.

“Ever since we are children, we grow up socially conditioned to think and behave a certain way. We are always told what to do and what to say and that affects how we observe things, what we see and memorize. So what I try to do through my works is to pick out certain nuances, some oddities that I see in everyday life. Sometimes I give them a whimsical, surreal twist,” explains Trusha. “My use of indigo relates to the way my ideas appeared out of the blue, over random conversations. Also, I think it’s quite a contemplative colour.”

My cup of tea - Oh my! The things in it!

Bakula Nayak works on vintage paper, using watercolour, pen and ink to create intricate imagery that is absurd, almost fantastical, yet endearing. A snail carries a precarious stack of cupcakes and teacups on its back, or a fat bird perched atop wears a woollen cap while it’s snowing. “I used to collect a lot of vintage paper and a few months ago, I decided to draw again after a long gap. I had stored them for such a long time that giving them new life in a new context excited me,” says Bakula. “And I worked with circumstances from my life. I used to live in New York and I hated the winters there, so the illustration was a statement to that. I used to love drinking tea in the winter, when they would come out with special flavours.”

Memory Box

Kalyani Ganapathy paints landscapes in unusual shades, of pink, orange and brown. Most of these landscapes, of birds in the sunset, toadstools, a “blanket of stars”, or lotus ponds against the sun, are from her memory. “This is the first time I have done landscapes. The work is like a visual journal of many instances in life. They are real life memories, which I have abstracted, to an extent. I use watercolours in a way that it wouldn’t normally be used to paint landscapes,” says Kalyani.

“I enjoy working on minute details using watercolours and also the way different colours run into each other within the form. So there is a lot of exploration of detail in my work. I think the shades of brown lend themselves to a vintage look, of something preserved.”

(Report by Harshini Vakkalankam, Photo by Sampath Kumar GP for The Hindu)

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Bliss Art Gallery, Pune, presents a solo show of art works by artist Seema Ghiya. Titled, ‘Look Around’ the show has on display some exquisite art works by the artist. Seema works in the water colour on canvas and paper, and some of the paintings on view are also rendered in charcoals and pencils on paper.

The artist finds inspirations from various sources such as rural landscapes, sea and waterscapes, realistic portraitures also feature in the collection on display. With a keen sense of realistic figuration, Seema’s works on show encompass the mix of rural and urban influences to make an interesting show.

The exhibition is on view till 4th January 2014.

Aroma 5

Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai presents an art exhibition by Corporate Art India, titled, ‘Aroma 5’. Corporate Art India has been holding large scale group shows in the country to promote upcoming and emerging talent and also displaying works of eminent artists.

Various artists will display their unique and exclusive paintings and sculptures from different parts of the country and the world.

Aroma 5 is a fifth edition of Corporate Art India’s efforts to bring quality art to the fore. The show is jointly curated by Pravash Chatterjee and Minaksshi Bhattacharya.

The show commences on 3rd January and is on view till 7th January 2014.

Splash

Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat, Bangalore presents a solo painting exhibition titled, ‘Splash’. The painting exhibition displays the works of artist Vijaya Sri. The works encompass a variety of emotions that the works have been influenced by. Nuances of memory, dreams, achievements, disappointments, joys, sorrows, laughter, serenity and of life itself surface in the vibrant works of Vijaya.

The works on display are mostly figuratives rendered in acrylic on canvas medium.

Titled ‘Threadarte’ the show displays the thread based works of Gunjan and Rahul. These metaphorical threads hum the many notes, each for the many running thoughts they have, all the time. Each strand gets knotted onto another just how a thought leads to another till it all begins to make sense. Fluid as they are, these threads lend us thoughts to begin with and lead on.

Through the many visuals they have created both abstract and figurative art, reliving little journeys they made in the past, some physically and some like expressions in their minds, knot by knot like little steps leading somewhere meaningful.

The show is on view till 31st December 2013.

(News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

Collective interest

A newly formed art collective promises to be an exciting narrative in the Chennai art scene for both artists and art lovers

( Apart of the Collective's exhibits)

Mazhalai — the lisp of children — is how they see their latest works. That is because artists of the Karuppu Art Collective are constantly reinventing themselves in terms of material, methods and concepts. This newly formed collective promises to be an interesting narrative in the Chennai art scene for both artists and art lovers, because the group has come together with dual intentions — to exchange ideas with each other, and to explore and disseminate the nuances of art to all those interested in art. The collective’s first exhibition was flagged off by the panel discussion The Status Of Chennai Art Movement by Rm. Palaniappan, regional secretary, Lalit Kala Academy; Sadanand Menon, art and culture critic; and Chandru G., art historian, writer and retired principal of the Government College of Fine Arts.

The artists of the Collective happen to be of assorted ages and art disciplines, and include Aparajithan Adimoolam, Chandru G., Ebenezer Sunder Singh, Krishnapriya C.P., Maria Antony Raj, Michael Irudayaraj, Natesh Muthuswamy, Narendran K. and Sharmila Mohandas. Incidentally, all of them happen to be the alumni of the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. They may be out of college now, but Chandru remains their mentor. “Among other things, he helped us all break free from set moulds and the European baggage,” mentions Natesh, and adds, “Art is the last free democratic space we have for self expression, and Karuppu will be a stage for that.”

Though they formally got together earlier this year, these artists had always been in touch. They decided on the karuppu (black) tag — as a tribute to the black of the sketches that is fundamental to art work; as a symbol of the unknown and the untold, which these artists seek to explore; and also because it paraphrases the fact that art internalises all facets of life. Another aspect that stands out about this collective is that these artists are articulate about art, and their meetings are boisterous occasions. They bask in each other’s company and revel in heated discussions and friendly leg-pulling, breaking traditional notions of artists being solemn.

Art is an individual endeavour. Would belonging to a collective wear off the individuality of their art works? “No, the effect is positive, we learn from each other,” says Krishnapriya. “I would say that the only commonality in our art is that none of us would do decorative art or compromise on our art to cater to markets,” adds Aparajithan. “It is a space for discussion and sharing,” says Michael Irudayaraj. “And of course, a collective does become functionally advantageous when it comes to arranging for gallery space,” Narendran mentions.

The Lisp Of Children includes an eclectic array of art from acrylic-on-canvas and ink-on-paper to fibre-glass sculptures and art work with inset LED lights. The works of the Collective is on display at the residence of Anitha and A.S. Panneerselvan at Cholamandal Artists’ Village on ECR. It will end on December 28 with a panel discussion on modern Tamil artistic milieu, anchored by writers, theatre persons and filmmakers.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

The show is titled ‘The Lyrical Mystic’ and displays a series of paintings by the artist, dealing with a spiritual realm, intermingling with lived experiences and observations. The works are replete with figurative narrations, and vibrant in colour and forms.The surreal stories composed in mystical landscapes from the imaginations of the artist engage with the viewer.

The show is on view till 8th January 2014.

A Book of Images

Seagull Foundation For the Arts, Kolkata presents an unique show of works by artist Sunandini Banerjee, titled 'A Book of Images'. These works on display were created in response to texts from some of the greatest contemporary writers across the world.

Using the texts as an inspiration for her series, the artist Sunandini has created various kinds of digital collages of 139 works.

All the creations are a visual extravaganza. Each oeuvre of artwork on display is remarkable in its skillful execution, technique, adept brush strokes, and the subtle use of colors. Their fluid strokes immediately elicit a dialogue with the viewer because of their appeal on the visual statement and the underlying mystique of tradition and symbolism embodied in the treatment of their subjects.

The show is on view till 31st December 2013.Splash of Colours

( Ravindra Natya Mandir)

Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai presents an exhibition titled, ‘Splash of Colours’ by artist Saraswati Mazumdar. The works on display are rooted in spiritual inspirations and are rendered in acrylic and mixed media on paper and canvas.

Saraswati a resident of Powai, Mumbai mainly focussed on spirituality based themes and portraitures. The works of upcoming Delhi based artist Sobha Singh also will be on display at the same venue in conjunction with Saraswati’s works.

The show is on view till 24th December 2013.

( News reports by Sushma Sabnis)

FEATURE

A good year for art spaces

New spaces for art are emerging in Bangalore, and they have a lot more to offer through exhibitions and beyond finds HARSHINI VAKKALANKA in this round-up of the art scene in the city

(Making art accessible takes on a new meaning at the metro centre Photo: Bhagya Prakash K)

One might say the year 2013 was a good year for art in Bangalore. The city saw the opening of at least two new spaces, Thalam and the Rangoli Metro Art Space.

While Rangoli has brought in new perspectives to art viewing and public art spaces in Bangalore, Thalam is growing as a space for emerging artists to showcase their work, especially work around social consciousness. Other recently opened up art spaces, like the Gallery Five Forty Five, which is slowly developing as an exciting space for unusual art within the ambit of visual art. The city seems to be slowly opening up to include other forms of unconventional art, such as performance art, installation art, live art and workshops for an experience of art.

Here’s what the new spaces feel about their growth in the last year and about how much Bangalore has opened up to art.

Rangoli Metro Art CentreSurekha, curator of the Rangoli Metro Art Centre says their performance, since the space opened up over six months ago has been better than expected. “Not only did we have many interesting shows in the galleries, but we also formed interesting associations with different groups,” she says. Some of the shows which garnered the most response were the photos of old Bangalore and the exhibition of the underground metro stations and the puppet shows, which brought together puppets from across the country as well as visitors across all ages and sections of society.The latest exhibition on view in the gallery space, was the Namma Ooru-Namma Neeru, an exhibition of photographs based on the theme of water conservation.“Each exhibition had its own kind of footfall from different pockets of society. Then we also had community drum jams and street plays in our space. We opened up our space for theatre and music. The auditorium has also come alive in the last two months with contemporary dance performances, plays and a lot of workshops.” Surekha draws attention to the fact that the whole stretch of the Metro Art Centre, was being utilized so every time somebody walked in they would see something new, and the gallery hopes to attract a permanent crowd that keeps coming back“I think we have been successful in reaching out as a public space.”

Thalam“We had our first show in February and we have been growing slowly since then. But we have had many good shows and put together different types of events,” says Perumal Venkatesan (Pee Vee) co-founder, Thalam.“Though we are not pulling as many people as some of the bigger galleries do, we understand it takes time because going to a gallery is not like going to a restaurant. Only those who are seriously interested will walk in.”Pee Vee points out that Thalam not only conduct exhibitions, but also film screenings, workshops or storytelling events, many times with an underlying social themes.“Our vision is to showcase emerging artists who are struggling to find a platform and we have had 10 months to reach out and identify them. We believe that every time somebody comes in, they would have something new to take back. We want to make it a regular visiting space that can engage people.”

Five Forty Five

Five Forty Five who will turn two in April, is happy to have shown emerging artists from across mediums.“We have shown artworks in mediums, like print making or new media, that are typically not seen in other galleries,” says Sonali, Gallery Five Forty Five.“We like the fact that we showed original comic art by Appupen, we showed works by Asuka Nirasawa, a Japanese contemporary artist. We also showed new media works, in three video installations and associated drawings by Megahna Bisineer.”And each of these artists are shown, says Sonali, because they would have created these works regardless of whether they had a chance to show them or not.“We are booked for the next six months and though we are happy to explore other forms of art, we want to focus on visual art. Next year, we want to see if we can take these artists to other cities in collaboration with other galleries that share our vision and focus.”

From the other side“Recently, NGMA gave me an opportunity to do a performing art piece and I worked alongside artists like Seema Kohli, I see that galleries like Sumukha have also started opening up to performance art,” says artist Jeetin Rangher.“I see that Bangalore has opened up to many different kinds of art. The Rangoli Metro Art Centre is open to everybody.“Younger artists are getting a chance to show their works and visitors don’t feel it’s a confined space where only sophisticated people go.“People are now becoming more open to art, they are seeing it in different places.”